Game apparatus.



Patented Doc. 30, I902.

F. SIEVEBS & M. KEPPLER.

GAME APPARATUS.

(Application filed June 7, 1902.)

(No Model.)

ms uuqms PETERS comuoroumo. wasumcmn. n c,

UNi'ris STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND SIEVERS AND MICHAEL KEPPLER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,128, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed June 7,1902. Serial No. 110,594. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FERDINAND SIEVERS and MICHAEL KEPPLER,CitlZ6nS of the United States, and residents of the city of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

Our invention relates to a game which is played with tenpins, and may be termed a flying or swinging ball game, in which the tenpins are adapted to be struck and bowled over by means of a suspended ball which may swing relatively to the tenpins.

The objects of our invention are to enable a game having some of the characteristics of the American game of tenpins to be played in the open air, or, if desired, within doors,

and to make the apparatus for playing the game portable, so that it may be set up without trouble and inconvenience and taken down and placed within a small space.

A further object of our invention is to improve in some respects upon the game of tenpins by introducing into the game elements of skill which have never heretofore been introduced into a game played with tenpins.

Further objects of our invention willhereinafter appear; and to these ends our invention consists in a game or toy embodying means for carrying'out the above objects and having the construction and general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter described and shown in this specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a game or toy embodying our invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

The game is intended to be played with tenpins, suitable tenpins A being shown set up in the usual manner, and these tenpins are adapted to be knocked down or bowled over by means of a suitable swinging or flying ball 13, the object being to start the ball swinging outwardly, as from a point at the rear of the tenpins, and to cause it to strike the pins as it returns toward the player. It will thus be seen that according to our new game the pins in the game may be played with as they would be in the ordinary game of tenpins played in a bowling-alley, and

endeavors may be made to bowl over the tenpins A by means of the swinging ball B in the same mannerthat the game is carried out in a bowling-alley.

The apparatus for carrying out our invention may be very'simple, and various forms of apparatus may be devised which will be suitable to the ends in view. We have, however, illustrated a convenient form of apparatus which has been found suitable for our purpose, and it is preferably made in such manner that it is portable and may be dismounted or taken apartand packed in a comparatively small space, so that it does not take up much room and may be conveniently kept about the house or grounds where it is intended to play the game outdoors.

As shown in the drawings, connected to a suitable base 0 are a plurality of side pieces D, the base and side pieces forming a framework for the structure. The side pieces D may be connected in any suitable mannerto the base 0, as by bolts or pins a, and hinges b or other equivalents are preferably provided upon the side pieces D in order that they may be folded over into a small space when the apparatus is to be dismounted. The side pieces D may be secured to each other by suitable means, as a pin or bolt 0, and in order to form as simple a structure as possible the side pieces are crossed, the outer ends forming a base or support for a table E, upon which to place the tenpins.

Suitably supported from the base 0 is a standard G, as shown, the base being provided with a step or socket H, in which the standard G is supported. The standard may bejointed, as at g, in order to be dismounted, and is of any suitable material, as iron or wood, and of a proper height for the ends in rial of sufficient strength to Withstand the strain to which it is put. The arm K should extend over substantially the center .of the table or plate E, and when the ball B is hanging straight downward under the force of gravity it should preferably take the position as shown in the drawingsthat is, at the rear of the tenpins or at the outer edge of the table E. The ball B should be suspended a very short distance above the table E, preferably about an inch, this distance depending upon the size of the ball. By fastening a suitable eye 0 to the balls and arranging a hook p on the cord Z balls of different sizes may be attached to the cord, which is shown knotted at q, whereby the height of the ball from the table may be adjusted.

In playing the game the player takes his stand at a point P about as far from the table E as the table is from the base 0, and the tenpins having been arranged upon the table in any manner, as with the apex of the triangle away from the player, the ball B is grasped and allowed to swing forward, while at the same time it is given an impulsion or swing to one side or the other of the tenpins in such manner thatit will swing around them on its forward movement; but upon the return swing the ball is designed to strike against the tenpins and knock them down. The accuracy with which this may be accomplished will depend entirely upon the skill of the player and his dexterity and judgment in swinging the ball forward and to one side with sufficient impetus to cause it to return in the path of the tenpins. As shown in the plan,the dotted lines indicate the approximate paths which the ball may take in its SWIIIQ.

Ou i' invention is simplein construction and may readily and quickly be set up wherever desired, either in the openair or indoors, and it is adapted to be played by any one where bowling, on the other hand, would be thought too violent a form of exercise, one of the main features of our invention being the fact that a great deal of skill and judgment, combined with an accurate eye, are required in playing the game.

7 Obviously our invention may be embodied in widely-varying forms.

Therefore, without limiting ourselves to the construction shown and described nor enumerating equivalents, we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

A game apparatus comprising a base, foldable side pieces connected to the base, and crossing each other, a table supported by the outer ends of the side pieces and adapted to support pins,a socket on said base,a sectional standard supported in the socket, an arm detachably secured to the upper end of the standard, a cord connected to the outer end of said arm and aball connected to the rope, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FERDINAND SIEVERS. MICHAEL KEPPLER.

Witnesses:

H. G. OGDEN, J r., HENRY O. GARRETSON. 

